Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/293

 Differtation on the Lives and Works, &c. 231 STEPHEN OF LANGTON, ARCHBISHOP OP CANTERBURY. Stephen of Langton, an Englifliman by birth, was archbifhop of Canterbury in the year 1207, as fully appears by the writers of that prelate's life, as well civil as ecclefiailical, for I do not here confider him other than as an Anglo-Norman poet ; and in this point of view he appears to be not deftitute of merit. He can- not be denied to have poflefled a lively imagination, happy ideas, and language tolerably flowing. It muft be matter of aftonifhment that the firfl proof which I fhall give of his poetical talents mould be taken from his fermons. He has inferted in one of them a ftanza of a fong which feems dic- tated by the Graces, and if found in any other fituation, it would appear to form a compliment delicately made to fome Beauty. I acknowledge that when I firft read them, my furprife made me re- turn to the title of the fermon, that I might be fure that I was not miftaken. But no : it truly is in his fermon on the Holy Virgin, that this prelate has placed the following ftanza : Bele Aliz matin leva Sun cors vefli et para, enz un verger s'en entra, cink flurettes y' truva, un chapelet fet en a de Rofe flurie Pur Deu trahez vus en la vus ki ne amez mie. The